The reception area is, in many ways, the heart of the building. This is where everyone walks into the organisation every single morning, and where everyone exits in the evening. It is the place where visitors wait to be seen, and it is the single most important spot in terms of making a good first impression.
If you know anything about business, and we’re assuming you do, then you will already know that first impressions are EVERYTHING. If a client walks into your reception area and the space is dirty, untidy, the receptionist isn’t paying attention, they’re not smiling and asking how they can help, and if the reception chairs are extremely uncomfortable, do you really think they’re going to form a positive impression of your overall business? Not at all!
The chances are they’re going to automatically assume that you pay as much attention to your goods and services as you do your general reception area - not much at all! Without a doubt, this is going to make them turn around and take their business elsewhere, probably to one of your competitors. All of this adds up to lost profits for you. The unfortunate thing is, it’s an area of your business, which can be so easily fixed, with a little time and attention thrown at it.
One of the biggest things to pay attention is your reception seating. Of course, the area needs to look fantastic too; it needs to be clean and tidy, it needs to reflect the feel and ethos of your entire business, and it needs to have a receptionist who is helpful and attentive. However, if your seating is downright uncomfortable and needs a good clean, your guest is not going to be too impressed whilst they’re waiting.
The bottom line is that an impressive reception area is vital for a well-run and successful business, from the state of the reception desk, right down to the number of times your receptionist smiles at their visitors!
So, how can you mix things up and develop a professional, comfortable, and welcoming reception area, with the best type of reception seating on offer? Let’s check out a few reception seating ideas, which you might like to consider for your next refurbishment.
What Are Your Visitors Going to do Whilst They’re Waiting?
Firstly, you need to think about what your visitors are likely to be doing whilst they’re waiting to be seen. Of course, you don’t want anyone to be waiting for too long, but there is the chance that they could be very early for an appointment, and that means they have to wait a little while. Are they going to need to work in that time? Do you need to ensure availability of charging points for laptops and tablets? Do you need to have small tables for them to lean their work on? These are all extras you can look into, which will really add something extra to your reception space.
Of course, in terms of seating, it needs to be comfortable. If your visitors are likely to be working whilst they’re waiting, they need supportive seating. You can purchase a reception sofa which is quite firm, which will give them comfort whilst they’re waiting, instill that welcoming and homely feel to your reception, but will also be supportive enough for them to do whatever they need to do whilst they’re waiting to be seen.
Arrange Your Reception Seating in Groups, Pairs, and Singles
It depends how large your reception area is, but it may be that you have groups of visitors attending your building, who need to sit together. In that case, arrange your seating in clusters. Of course, you might also have visitors who attend alone, and they don’t want to sit with strangers they don’t know. It’s about catering for many different requirements, and that is quite easy when you group your seating together.
For instance, you could have cube seats, e.g. almost like stools but made of fabric and much more comfortable. You could arrange these around a small table in a group of four or five, and over the other side of the reception, you could have a sofa or a cluster of individual chairs. This gives your guests the choice of where to sit, and reduces any discomfort they might feel, when sitting with strangers.
Make Sure Your Seating Fits in With Your Design
If your reception area is decorated in a sleek monochrome design, you don’t want a sofa or collection of chairs, which completely clash with that decor. It’s important to ensure that everything matches, to give the right impression once more. A mish-mash of designs might be intriguing, but it could also come over as unorganised and ‘thrown together’. Keep everything within the same decor and style, and you’ll give the right impression from the get-go.
For instance, monochrome could mean black or white seating, but it could also mean adding in a little grey office furniture to mix things up a little. This is still within the colour palette concerned, but adds something a little different to proceedings.
Comfort is Everything
We have touched upon comfort already, when talking about what your visitors will do whilst they’re waiting, but this is so vital that it needs a section of its own. Avoid hard chairs, and avoid wooden stools. These might look contemporary, but they’re extremely uncomfortable and they’re likely to have your guests fidgeting around and becoming annoyed whilst they’re waiting. There is an exception to this rule however, which we’re going to cover in our final section.
Ensure that your seating is also cleaned regularly, and that any spillages are mopped up immediately. Stains on sofas do not look good, and they don’t look impressive to anyone!
If you don’t want to go down the route of a sofa, you could opt for fabric-covered chairs, or even mesh chairs, which are extremely comfortable and come in a range of different colours. These are also very versatile, as they could be used for other functions if need be, such as in meetings when you don’t have enough chairs in the boardroom. Check out your choices online to give you some ideas. You’ll find options wherever you are, such as office furniture Kent choices which will spruce up your reception area to the max.
Make The Most of The Space You Have
If you have a small reception area, that doesn’t mean you have cut down on your seating, or go under quality. Make use of the wall space around you by having a wall seat installed. These are comfortable and can be designed in a range of different colours, so they can easily fit in with your overall look, whilst not taking up a huge amount of floor space. Staff could also use this area for a quick catch up, if the reception area was free, so it works as a multifunctional space for the entire organisation.
Informal Seating and Design is a Great Idea
It is always better to go for an informal, laid-back, and casual seating option, than a stuffy, uptight option, which is bound to be less than comfortable. By opting for a more chilled out choice, you’re relaxing your visitors and avoiding a buildup of stress. You have no idea why they are waiting in the reception area, and it could be for something quite serious, e.g. a job interview. In that case, you need to try and relax them, not make them more uptight!
A comfortable seating area, with good padding on the chairs, and relaxing extras, such as a coffee machine or flowers/plants, will create the right impression and the right general vibe in the reception space.
Of course, if your office is a funky and a modern space, then your reception area also needs to show this, and in that case you could maybe go for something like a coffee shop vibe. This means high stools, wooden tables, low hanging lighting etc. It’s really about being comfortable and informal, yet fitting in with the feel of the business. We might have mentioned avoiding stools and wooden tables, but if the design really calls for it, and your business reflects that look, it’s something you could think about.
At the end of the day, your reception area has to be a space you pay extreme attention to. Reception areas have changed in design drastically over the years, and we now have the creativity to design a space that sums the organisation up perfectly. Business might be decided upon in the boardroom, but it could very well be the case that your client has decided already, whilst they were waiting in the reception area and felt uncomfortable! By covering every possible base, you’re giving the right impression to anyone who walks into your building, and therefore boosting your chances of new business and repeat business too.
Do you have any other ideas for comfortable and innovative reception seating designs? Have you visited any reception areas recently that really impressed you? Share your ideas below!